It was a thrilling showdown dubbed the ‘Jollof Derby’. Nigeria’s Super Eagles clinched victory with a 2-1 win over their super rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday evening. By that, the Nigerian national football team secured bragging rights in the highly anticipated encounter.

The match kicked off with a scrappy start, marked by a lack of rhythm and fluency from both teams. However, Nigeria gradually gained momentum, intensifying pressure on Ghana and ultimately earning a penalty for a handball inside the box after 34 minutes of play. Cyriel Dessers capitalized on the opportunity, calmly slotting the penalty past goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

As the second half commenced, Ghana showcased greater purpose and attacking threat. However, their momentum suffered a setback in the 56th minute when defender Jerome Opoku received a red card, leaving spectators puzzled due to unclear circumstances surrounding his dismissal.

Undeterred by being a player down, the Ghanaians persisted in their quest for an equalizer. Yet, their efforts were thwarted when Ademola Lookman extended Nigeria’s lead with a goal in the 84th minute.

In a last-ditch effort, Ghana managed to pull one back with a goal four minutes into stoppage time, as Jordan Ayew calmly converted from the penalty spot. However, despite their late surge, the match concluded with a 2-1 victory in favor of the Super Eagles, sealing their triumph in the ‘Jollof Derby’.